Romans 6:17: But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
Paul stated that sin results in death. Believers have been set free from sin and no longer are in bondage to it. Now believers are slaves of righteousness and alive to God. They are now to reject sin and do what is right by serving God. 1
Paul says beautifully of them, “You wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted” (v. 17b). The heart is the wellspring of man’s spiritual life, and that is where the Roman Christians’ obedience was rooted. It was not just a formal obedience—it came from the center of their being. This is the example of slavery Paul holds up for us all: a heartfelt obedience to Christ and his Word. It is an obedience which brings liberation. 2
Application
- Please express your thanks to God for five of His recent blessings in your life.
- How can you best explain, in your own words, the doctrine of grace? How does grace transform your thinking everyday?
Prayer
Lord, teach me to be thankful for Your ceaseless grace which is always available to me.
1. Dockery, D. S. (Ed.). (1998). Holman concise Bible commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
2. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
